Singapore based Mittu Chandilya appointed CEO of Air Asia India

MUMBAI: The board of Air Asia India on Wednesday appointed Singapore based Mittu Chandilya to head the operations of the company in India.

Air Asia's founder Tony Fernandes announced via his official twitter handle that the board appointed Mittu Chandilya as the CEO of the company.

"The board of Air Asia has appointed Mittu Chandilya as the CEO of the company. Mittu is coming home to change Indian travel and make it affordable for all Indians to fly", Fernandes tweeted.

Mittu Chandilya, 32, will be amongst the youngest CEO's to operate an airline in the country. Chandilya, educated at INSEAD in France, was formerly the head of services practices for Asia Pacific at Egon Zehnder International, an advisory firm with more than 420 consultants spread across 40 countries.

Earlier, putting speculations to rest, Fernandes had announced via his twitter account that he had selected the CEO for AirAsia India. He had tweeted from his official handle that the new CEO is a very smart boy from Chennai. "An amazing CV, will impress all", Fernandes had tweeted.

The appointment of the CEO for the Indian operations of Air Asia has been a much awaited decision with even the union aviation minister saying that a clearance from the home ministry will be given as soon as the company finalizes a CEO and its board.

The airline requires a clearance from the home ministry to kick start operations in India.

Air Asia is looking to start operations in India in the next few months after the government allowed foreign airlines to start operations in India with Indian partners. Air Asia had tied up with Tata group and Telstra Tradeplace to form the joint venture.

Meanwhile, the company has not announced the composition of its board so far. According to sources, the joint venture company is likely to have at least six members on its board, comprising two nominees each from AirAsia and Tata Sons and one representative from Telstra Tradeplace.